Root of his problems is not just getting old, says Tigers' Justin Verlander

While Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is now in his 30s, he doesn’t yet think he is at the stage where he needs to consider a radical overhaul of his pitching style, despite his recent struggles.
CARLOS OSORIO — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

It took all last season to find an answer, and that only lasted the postseason, and shortly into this regular season, before things went awry.

Is it as simple as ... age?

A common perception is that, as a power pitcher who’s now past 30, he’s on the downside of his career already and, to survive, will need to make adjustments to make up for the missing velocity.

“No, I don’t think I’m there yet,” the mainstay of the Detroit Tigers rotation said, despite his frustration at his recent bad stretch. “The stuff is still there. I’m not throwing 100 (mph) in the ninth inning right now, but if you look at it against a bunch of other pitchers, I’m still — stuff-wise — there.”

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His opponents Monday still think so, too.

“I know what people are saying,” Alex Gordon said. “He still looks good.”

“He still has his stuff. Today we just got to some good counts as hitters. We took advantage of some hits that went in our favor today and got some guys on base,” Eric Hosmer said. “As far as stuff-wise, it’s not much different. He’s still got good stuff.”

Verlander’s manager agreed.

“I do think all pitchers, in general, as they age, they adapt, they come up with a new pitch, they come up with a new approach, they find something that works. It’s funny, because the last time Justin pitched against Kansas City, he pitched well, and everybody was saying ‘If he gets older and loses velocity, he’s got the pitches to get people out.’ Now he’s scuffling, and everybody’s saying he’s done. I don’t think he’s done. I think Justin Verlander will be just fine. But I do think pitchers in general, as they age, their body changes, and they have to make adjustments,” manager Brad Ausmus.

“He certainly has the repertoire to pitch well into his 30s. And I don’t know that this is an indication of any of that. But I do know he’s got the stuff, and he’s still got the arm, to pitch for quite a while.”

Can he do that? Is the guy who could always reach back for triple digits going to be able to dial down the expectations to match the diminished arsenal?

Once it becomes obvious he has to, yes.

“I don’t think it would be difficult,” he allowed. “I think I’ve got a pretty good feel for pitching, and feel for my body, and I can make adjustments, so I don’t think it’d be difficult.”

But it’s not something he’s looked into.

Nor is it something he can just Google the answer to.

“There’s no prescription, there’s no book to read, because everybody’s a little bit different. I played with guys that have come up with another pitch. I played with guys that stuck with the same pitches, and learned to locate better,” Ausmus said. “I think ... he’s very capable of doing it. He’s got four very quality pitches. If he does have to do that as he gets older, I certainly believe this would be a guy that can do it.”

He does have an outline of a plan, though.

“Maybe I’ll just totally revamp everything, and start throwing like Luis Tiant,” he joked Monday. “I’m going to go Luis Tiant, just totally revamp my mechanics, do a little praise to the gods before I throw home. Also probably add a splitty and an eephus.”

Maybe study some Greg Maddux, the king of doing more with less?

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” he said. “My next start’s going to be a whole new me.”